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Jo Yeates told friends she was âdreadingâ spending the weekend alone, just hours before she was strangled to death by neighbour Vincent Tabak, a court has heard.

Joanna Yeates at her graduation in late November 2010 (Picture: PA)

The 25-year-old met colleagues in a pub for drinks after work on December 17 and confided to one about her fears, jurors were told.

She told office manager Elisabeth Chandler she planned to spend her time baking because it was her first weekend alone without boyfriend Greg Reardon, who was away visiting his family.

The landscape architect also appeared ânot in the best of moodsâ and âboredâ during drinks with fellow workers in the Ram pub in Bristol.

Workmate Darragh Bellew said he realised something might have happened to Miss Yeates when Mr Reardon called him later.

He added: âHe said he had got back to the flat and found it strange that all Joâs belongings were there.â

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The jury also heard how Vincent Tabak was drinking champagne the night after killing Miss Yeates.

The 33-year-old joined girlfriend Tanja Morson at a friendâs birthday party, where he was described as âtired and disinterestedâ, the jury was told. Linda Marland, who was at the party, told Bristol crown court: âHe only looked at me once.

âThe rest of the time he was staring up the room. I got the impression Vincent was bored with my conversation… he was drinking a glass of champagne.â

Tabak would also attend dinner parties and joke about the murder inquiry in the weeks after Miss Yeatesâ body was found three miles from her home in the Clifton area of Bristol, it was claimed.

He and his girlfriend once offered to walk a fellow party-goer home amid fears that a killer was on the loose, the court heard.